LordG Posted June 10, 2006 Posted June 10, 2006 I am looking for a reliable Universal remote to use for all the items listed in my signature. I have had bad experiences with them in the past like suddenly certian functions stop working or it turns off the TV instead of changing the channel on the STB, that kind of thing. I wouldnt mind getting one of those LCD touch screen ones as long as its not too expensive, but yeah has to be reliable.
PVE Posted June 10, 2006 Posted June 10, 2006 Tevion learning remote control - fifteen bucks. Anyone who comes after me will only suggest stuf that cost 20-100 times more.
DaveMews Posted June 10, 2006 Posted June 10, 2006 i bought one of the sunwave DSE branded lcd touch screen units from dick smith last weekend for $79. spent a bit teaching it all my devices and it now its replaced all but one remote control (my pvr cos its got so many extra buttons). I have even taught it my air conditioning codes very solid, heavy, but not great if you have small hands. I have no issues with the size. Screen is very nice and clear, the motion sensor to turn it on when you pick it up is a nice feature. The only real downside is that each button has a few functions, and as its a pre-programed lcd, you cant move buttons around the screen. So you have to try your best to get everything to fit on. Fortunately, each device has 2 pages for butons so u can add stuff on page two. I have it controlling my TV, PVR (stb functions only + some functions eg record, pause), receiver, 2 dvd players, vcr, reverse cycle aircon. Macro function is good too... stack commands so pressing "DVD" will turn on the tv, change to hdmi., turn on avr and switch to dvd input, mute the avr sound (in case its up too loud), turn on dvd player. Very handy. Does about 98% of buttons very well, and for $79 to replace about 6 remotes with one, I am very happy.
Mining Man Posted June 10, 2006 Posted June 10, 2006 Tevion learning remote control - fifteen bucks. Anyone who comes after me will only suggest stuf that cost 20-100 times more. The Harman Kardon remote for my AVR635 is programmable and works really well. And it was free... it was just that the receiver it came with was $1800...
nonny Posted June 10, 2006 Posted June 10, 2006 I used to use a Sunwave SRC-9320, bought it off Ebay for a bargain ($50) and it was pretty cool. Only thing I didnt like about it was its size and the fact it chewed through batteries in little over 3 months with regular usage. Ive since swapped to a Logitech Harmony remote, the Xbox360 version one, as I use two Xbox360s for media extender usage. I really, really like this remote and highly recommend the Harmony range. If there are any negatives its that the PC setup software is a bit slow to use due to the fact its a multiple choice wizard type setup but its easy to follow. The only other thing is you really need to tweak it to get it just right but the end result is well worth it. To put it another way, its the only remote that ever got the wife seal of approval in terms of ease of use and that says alot...
forsythe20 Posted June 10, 2006 Posted June 10, 2006 I have just bought a new Logitech remote 880 via ebay. Problem I found with when your system becomes complex is that unless you can rename the LCD keys you lose track of what the keys are for. Sony, Logitech and SunWave all have remotes that do this. An additional question when programming remotes. Our Samsung Plasma has two Component Inputs, and S Video input and an AV Input. The remote control that comes with the set has 1 source button which allows you to scroll through each one of these however when you want to program a learning remote you really don't want to have to scroll. Is there a way of directly linking to an input without scrolling? Even going via the Menu screen on the TV requires scrolling. We have Yamaha Home Theartre, Pioneer DVD HD Recorder, Foxtel IQ, Teac Set Top Box and Samsung Plasma. As such if you want to go from Pioneer DVD using AV input to Foxtel using S Video input you have to scroll so many times to go through the input range to get to S Video, etc etc.
nico6 Posted June 10, 2006 Posted June 10, 2006 I have just bought a new Logitech remote 880 via ebay. Problem I found with when your system becomes complex is that unless you can rename the LCD keys you lose track of what the keys are for. Sony, Logitech and SunWave all have remotes that do this.An additional question when programming remotes. Our Samsung Plasma has two Component Inputs, and S Video input and an AV Input. The remote control that comes with the set has 1 source button which allows you to scroll through each one of these however when you want to program a learning remote you really don't want to have to scroll. Is there a way of directly linking to an input without scrolling? Even going via the Menu screen on the TV requires scrolling. We have Yamaha Home Theartre, Pioneer DVD HD Recorder, Foxtel IQ, Teac Set Top Box and Samsung Plasma. As such if you want to go from Pioneer DVD using AV input to Foxtel using S Video input you have to scroll so many times to go through the input range to get to S Video, etc etc. You *can* name the LCD buttons on the Logitechs. Just do it in the web config tool. Haven't played with my config for a long time so can't remember exactly how, but I did it so you can too. Re the input swicthing, remember the universal remote can't do anything you can't do with the original remote. But it can, as you have no doubt done, replace many buttons presses with a single button. Input switching on my plasma requires scrolling, and it works fine as long as you make sure all the IR signals get to the plasma and the job is finished before you point it away.
djOS Posted June 10, 2006 Posted June 10, 2006 If you are an advanced technology user and like maximum control over your gadgets, I recommend the "Universal Remote Control" products. I have the URC MX-850 Aeros & 2x MRF-300 RF-IR Receivers. http://www.hometheatermaster.com/products/ You can buy them from Bluedo in the States for half of the Aussie Retail price.
LordG Posted June 10, 2006 Author Posted June 10, 2006 If you are an advanced technology user and like maximum control over your gadgets, I recommend the "Universal Remote Control" products. I have the URC MX-850 Aeros & 2x MRF-300 RF-IR Receivers.http://www.hometheatermaster.com/products/ You can buy them from Bluedo in the States for half of the Aussie Retail price. Which is the cheapest online retailer that does international shipping?
djOS Posted June 10, 2006 Posted June 10, 2006 Which is the cheapest online retailer that does international shipping? www.Bluedo.com does shipping to Aus or I've found dougtheaterman on ebay to be cheap and good to deal with.
wheelz Posted June 10, 2006 Posted June 10, 2006 Which is the cheapest online retailer that does international shipping? As mentioned above,probably the best place to get remotes from, great prices. http://www.bluedo.com/
LordG Posted June 10, 2006 Author Posted June 10, 2006 As mentioned above,probably the best place to get remotes from, great prices.http://www.bluedo.com/ its not a secure site, theres no way im entering my credit card details. I dont mean to offend anyone but the Universal Remote Control branded remotes look hideous.
djOS Posted June 10, 2006 Posted June 10, 2006 its not a secure site, theres no way im entering my credit card details.I dont mean to offend anyone but the Universal Remote Control branded remotes look hideous. LOL, each to their own, personally I reckon mine looks great. My MX-850 Btw, I suggest you take the time to read the www.remotecentral.com reviews of the URC's & Harmony's so that you know exactly what you are looking at.
LordG Posted June 10, 2006 Author Posted June 10, 2006 How much are you willing to spend? $200 maximum Im now looking at getting the Sony RMAV3000T for $200 off ebay
Keith_W Posted June 11, 2006 Posted June 11, 2006 If you have $200 to spend, you could consider getting an older model Philips Pronto - like this one from ebay. A friend of mine had the same Sony remote you're interested in, and he said that it was a PITA. Pronto remotes are fully customizable, but you have to learn how to use the software on the computer.
djOS Posted June 11, 2006 Posted June 11, 2006 $200 maximumIm now looking at getting the Sony RMAV3000T for $200 off ebay I'd steer well clear of that model, I had one as my very first Universal Remote and it has non-upgradeable firmware. I found that it would not learn some Foxtel codes and would crash ocassionaly when using others. If you want a cheap but good Universal remote, grab a Harmony 520 which can be had for as low as $99 dollars (click link). Logitech Harmony 520 PC Programmable Universal Remote
LordG Posted June 11, 2006 Author Posted June 11, 2006 I'd steer well clear of that model, I had one as my very first Universal Remote and it has non-upgradeable firmware. I found that it would not learn some Foxtel codes and would crash ocassionaly when using others. If you want a cheap but good Universal remote, grab a Harmony 520 which can be had for as low as $99 dollars (click link).Logitech Harmony 520 PC Programmable Universal Remote it looks alright, do I need to have windows or can it be programed without a computer? I am running linux thats all.
djOS Posted June 11, 2006 Posted June 11, 2006 it looks alright, do I need to have windows or can it be programed without a computer? I am running linux thats all. You need MacOS X or any flavor of Windows + a USB Port.
Tackler Posted June 11, 2006 Posted June 11, 2006 I bought a Harmony 659 off ebay a month or so back and love it....would highly recommend it and probably the whole Harmony range. I'm not much of a tech guy....I just wanted to find something that would mean hiding the 6 remotes away and was pretty simple....and the Harmony software interface is prefect in that respect as it was easy to set things up exactly how I wanted them to run...the Activity buttons (which are dedicated on the 659 and I think on the LCD on the 520) just do it all for you! If u want to watch tv, it turns it on, selects the right input, turns on the STB. Simple! To watch a dvd, there's a dedicated button that turns on the dvd, turns on the tv, selects the right input, turns on the AV receiver, selects the right source, and u're watching DVDs inside a minute. The Help feature is fantastic as well...very useful as when pressed, it asks simple plain English questions..."Is the TV on"? "Is the TV on now"? "Did that fix the problem"? etc The software is easy to nabigate through as well....it is all about just asking u to answer questions about what your equipment is, what needs to be on to do a particular function, what needs to go off, when things come on, what should it be set to! Some people on here have made it sound more complicated than it really is! You'll be pleasantly surprised! Overall, I think the Harmony range is a great solution....check out ebay for the 520. The 659 comes from the US and is great and I paid about $100 from a guy selling his to upgrade to teh XBox 360 version. The Eurpoean and UK Logitech site has some newer models which have terrific styling closer to the squarish shape of the 520 (rather than the Figure 8 shape of the 659 and 880) but no word if those are ever going to be released locally!
JulesC4 Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 After much research I have just purchased an Universal Remote MX-900 Item number: 9735383795 (8 left in stock) Buy it Now, from ebay (US) Total cost was US$264 including insured shipping and one years replacement warranty. It's listed as only shipping to US, but they will ship worldwide if emailed first, I paid with PayPal which gives me buyer protection (which I have used before and received a full refund on a lost item). You can download the programming software from www.universalremote.com and try it out and has 95% of my components already in their database (including the Pioneer AX4 under the american model number VSX-74). The other 5%, an LG-5100P HDSTB can be learned and uploaded to the remote for editing. I liked the large LCD at the top of the remote compared to some of the others remotes, and the the fact it is has great editing software, which I can setup the way I want it, and can be easily edited, if things don't work out.
Ivanhoe Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 My personal pick is the MX-500. Looks almost identical to MX-850 - so it probably doesn't pass your ugly test - but I agree with djos I think they look as good as any other remote. I picked it after a similar post to yours and a searcho f this forum (do a search for Mx-500 and see the feedback...). I believe its the best hard-button remote out there: - customisable LCD screen - passes the wife usability test - great frequency range, never had a remote it couldn't pickup (including the Foxtel IQ remote which has caused a few problems with some Universal Remotes) And its currently US$86 (+delivery) - so it fits your budget. I got it about 18 months ago off the bluedo site, without any issues. I think a LOT of people off the forum have bought from them - check the search. They used to give a discount if you say you come from the forum - they may still do. But there are other options if you are still not comfortable. But if you want a touchscreen or a PC programmable remote, need to go further upmarket from this one. I would also highly recommend the www.remotecentral.com site - incredibly detailed reviews.
moby disc Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 I just purchased a Harmony 520 off Ebay. It cost me $101 including postage. Its a pretty sweet gadget and is working with my varied range of equipment, from my old Pioneer VSX-455 amp, pioneer CD and tape players, plus all the other assorted stuff. It took a bit of setting up but now I just have to press a couple of buttons to swap from pay TV to digital TV. The CD and tape functions seem to work well too. I have to work out how to use the Centrex PVR which I have. But so far so good. It looks quite stylish too.
ajm1503559545 Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 The 520 is high on my list of 'universal remotes I'd really like to try' after it had been mentioned that it's very similar in function to the 880 but less than half the price. Very tempting.
fobfob Posted June 13, 2006 Posted June 13, 2006 You can download the programming software from www.universalremote.com and try it out and has 95% of my components already in their database (including the Pioneer AX4 under the american model number VSX-74). The other 5%, an LG-5100P HDSTB can be learned and uploaded to the remote for editing. I took a look but was not impressed. None of my most commonly used components are in the database (only the old vcr and dvd player i don't use anymore) and the software looks a little clunky. Maybe I'm too superficial. Of course you can learn, and you won't be using the software much after you set it up. But the database and the software didn't add up to a good advertisement for me. I'll keep looking... (thanks for the tip tho)
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